Vacuum cleaner



' NOV. 30, 1943. G LOFGREN I 2,335,428

VACUUM CLEANER Filed March 12, 1941 -INVENTOR.

'46; ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 3%, fi -t3 tries VACUUM CLEANER Gustaf Einar Loi'g-ren, Riverside, Conn, assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application March 12, 1941, Serial No. 382,850

3 Claims.

My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more specifically to vacuum cleaners of the enclosed bag type, and still more particularly it is concerned with an improved arrangement for removably securing a filter member in a vacuum cleaner of this kind.

In vacuum cleaners of the type in which the dust bag is enclosed within a substantially airtight casing, it is desirable to provide a filter member for removing from the air any line particles oi dust which have been able to pass through the dust bag. The arrangement should be such that all of the air flowing through the cleaner must pass through the filter and it is further desirable that the filter be removable in order that it may be occasionally cleaned or replaced by a new filter.

In accordance with my invention, I provide within the casing a ring-like member which serves to support the filter in proper position, and to assure that all of the air passes through the filter, as well as to support the motor-fan unit. Adjacent to this member there is pivoted a framework which is pivotal between a position holding the filter in place and a position permitting removal or the filter. This framework is advantageously made, in part at least, of resillent material in order that it may resiliently engage a detent for retaining it in the former position. Also, the resilient nature of the frameworlt is of value in assembly, inasmuch as it permits certain parts thereot to be sprung so as to engage recesses provided for this purpose.

Further objects and advantages of my inventlon will be apparent from the following description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms a. part of this specification, and of which:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partially broken away, oi a vacuum cleaner embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 3-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to that illustrating in Fig. 3, but showing the parts in different relative positions.

Referring to the figures, reference character It designates a hollow casing which is adapted to be.supported in a substantially horizontal position by means of runners H secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by the brackets l2. One end of the casing I 0 is normally closed by means of a cover member l3 which is removably secured to the casing by latch members I on opposite sides, one of which is shown in Fig. 1. Cover I3 is provided with an inlet opening to which may b attached one end of a hose l5 leading from a suction nozzle i6.

Disposed within the casing it is a ring-like partition supports a radial portion which is 7 formed with a central aperture Within which is 1 received a cylindrical member Member 25 has axial-extending projections at which-extend to the plane of shoulder 25 -so as to provide support for the central portion of th screen 24. Seated within the cylindrical member 2% is a resilient ring so of rubber or the like which serves to support one end of a motor-fan unit 25. For

this purpose, a hollow cylindrical member 359 is secured. within an opening formed in a casing 3! of the fan housing and extends within. the resilient member Reference character 32 designates a filter member which is adapted to be supported by the seat The filter member includes a ring 33 over which are stretched layers of filter cloth 3t. These layers overlap the outer periphery of ring 33 and may be secured thereto by means or" an adhesive or a cord. The diameter of ring 533 is such that the filter member has a snug fit within the seat 20, the overlapped layers of filter cloth providing a substantially airtight packing which prevents leakage of air between the seat and the ring 33. A cloth strip or the like 35 is preferably sewed at its ends to one side of the filter in order to provide a convenient handle for grasping in order to remove the filter from the ber preferably is made of spring-steel wire shaped so as to have side portions 40 which are joined together at one of their ends by means of an arcuate portion 4|. The free ends of the side portions 40 are given the shape most clearly Annular portion it of the as follows:

illustrated in Fig. 2, whereby they have aligned portions 42 which extend substantially at right angles to the side portions. The end portions 42 are received in the apertures formed in the ears 36. In assembly, the resilient nature of the member 39 permits the end portions 42 to be sprung towards each other sufllciently so that the latter may be inserted in the apertures, whereupon they will expand so .as to be retained therein. If'desired, substantially rigid channel-shaped member 43 may be bridged across the side portions 40. after the ends 42 have been inserted in the apertures, thuspreventing subsequent springing of the ends 42 towards each other. also provide a convenienthandle which may be grasped to pivot the frame 39 from the position shownin Fig. 3 to that illustrated in Fig. 4.

The side portions 46 are provided adjacent to both ends with ofiset' extensions 44 which are positioned so as to engage the filter member 32 at points adjacent to its periphery in order to hold the filter member securely in place within the seat 29 when the frame is in the position shown in Fig. 3. The area of contact between extensions 44 and the filter is but very small, and hence the area of the filter available for the passage of air is not materially reduced. The flange I8 is provided with an inwardly extending detent 45 at a point diametrically opposite from the bracket 31 and which is adapted to engage the arcuate portion 4| of the frame. The resilient nature of the frame and the arcuate shape of portion 4| permits it to be deformed sufilciently to pass over the detent'45 upon the application of sufiicient force, but otherwise retains the frame in the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

Disposed within the casing between the partition I! and the cover I3 is a dust bag 46 having an open end with which communicates the inlet opening formed in the cover to which the hose I5 is connected. Disposed within the casing 3| of the motor-fan unit 29 is a centrifugal fan 41 which serves to produce fiow of air through the casing.

The operation of the above-described device is Rotation of the centrifugal fan 41 causes air to be drawn in through the nozzle i6 and hose l5 to the interior of the dust bag 46. If the nozzle is passed over a dusty surface, dust will be entrained with this air. Substantially all of this dust will be intercepted by the dust bag 46, but a small percentage. of extremely fine particles may pass through the material of the dust bag along with the air. The partition assures that all of this air will pass through the filter 32, which is of such a nature as to remove the aforementioned fine particles. The air, after having passed through the filter, flows around the projections 21 and through the cylindrical member 30 to the inlet of' the fan. The purified air is discharged from the ran through an outlet opening to the atmosphere. The resilient ring 28 serves to absorb vibrations produced by the operation of the motor-fan unit and thus reduces noise.

The frame 39, in addition to retaining the filter in place, serves another important purpose. In order to provide as much surface area of the dust bag 46 as is possible, so as to obtain a minimum pressure drop therethrough, the bag preferably has a diameter at least as great as that of the filter and a length which is greater than that of the space within the casing. in which it is received. Consequently, when inflated by the Members 41 air flow, the closed end of the bag is forced against the end of this space and the side of the bag are more or less wrinkled. If no frame were provided, the end of such a bag would hence be pressed against the filter, with the result that air passing out through the sides of the bag could not reach the filter and hence little or no air would pass through the sides, thus rendering most of the area of the bag ineffective. However, the frame 39 holds the end of the bag away from the filter, thus making it possible to employ a long bag.

After, the vacuum cleaner has been operated for a time, sufficient dust will have collected in the dust bag to require its emptying. This may be done by. releasing the spring clips l4 and removing the cover I3, whereupon the dust bag may be withdrawn from the casing i0 and emptied. This operation in no manner disturbs the filter 32, and it is not necessary to clean or replace the filter each time the bag is emptied, as but a small amount oi dirt passes the bag and is intercepted by the filter. -However, it is occasionally advisable to clean the filter or replace it by a new one. To do this, the dust bag is removed in the manner just described, whereupon one of the channel members 43 may be grasped and pulled so as to pivot the frame 39 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that illustrated in Fig. 4. The resilient nature of the frame permits the arcuate portion 4| to be deformed sufiiciently to pass over the detent45. With the frame in the position shown in Fig. 4, the handle 35 on the filter may be grasped and a moderate pull will remove the filter from the seat 20. The filter may be inserted again by a reversal of the abovedescribed operations.

The screen 24 is not necessary, but may be provided in order to assure that under no conditions can any large objects be drawn into the fan. For instance, operation of the cleaner without the filter in place, particularly if the frame 39 were permitted to remain in the position shown in Fig. 4, might tend to pull the dust bag 46 through the cylindrical member 30, if a dust bag is employed having a length greater than the length of the space which it normally occupies, as above described. Also, should the cloth 7 34 of the filter become tom, the screen 24 prevents it, or any of the material 36, from being drawn into the fan. Hence, it is advisableto permanently secure the screen in place.

While I have described one more or less specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for the purpose of illustration only and that the scope of my invention is not to be limited thereby, but is to be determined from the appended claims.

What I claim is;

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a hollow casing, means for producing fiow of air through said casing, an air filter, means forming a seat within said casing for supporting said filter, said means being arranged to cause all of said air to pass through said filter, and a member pivotally mounted permanently within said casing adjacent to said seat, the width of said member being sufiiciently less than the corresponding interior dimension of said casing to permit the pivoting of said member between a position transverse to said casing in which it holds said filter against said seat and a position spaced far enough from the filter to permit withdrawal of the filter through the casing past said member.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a hollow casing, means for producing flow of air through said casing, an air filter, means forming a seat within said casing for supporting said filter, said means being arranged to cause all of said air to pass through said filter, a bracket secured within said casing adjacent to said seat and providing a pair of aligned apertures, a frame including side members joined together at one of their ends and having their other ends free and extending at substantially right angles to the side members, said frame being of resilient material whereby said free ends may be sprung to engage the apertures in said bracket, and a substantially rigid transverse member connecting said side members for preventing springing of said free ends after assembly, said frame being pivotal in said apertures between a position in which it holds said filter against said seat and a position spaced from said seat.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a hollow casing, means for producing flow of air through said casing, an

air filter, means forming a seat within said casing for supporting said filter, said means being arranged to cause all of said air to pass through said filter, a bracket secured within said casing adjacent to said seat and providing a pair of aligned apertures, a frame including side members joined together at one of their ends and having their other ends free and extending at substantially right angles to the-side members,

said frame being of resilient material whereby a said free ends may be sprung to engage the apertures in said bracket, a substantially rigid transverse member connecting said side members for preventing springing of said free ends after assembly, said frame being pivotal in said apertures between a position in which it holds said filter against said seat and a position spaced from said seat, and a detent engageable by said'resilient frame for releasably holding said frame in go the former position.

GUS'I'AF EINAR LOFGREN. 

